Pneumatic-tire armor



11- sTAssE.

.PNEUMATIC TIRE ARMOR.

Y A PFLICATUNILED-NOV.24, 191.9- 113381,02?. Patented June 7, 1921.

@nvm/woz Al 5r JOHN STASSE, OF LAPORTE, INDIANA.

PNEUMATIC-TRE ARMOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Y Patented June 7, 1921.

Application filed November 24, 191'9. Serial No. 340,112.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN STASSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Laporte, in the county of Laporte and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and u-seful lmprovements in Pneumatic-Tire Armor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to puncture proof shields for tires, and particularly to that type which are removable when not necessary for the purpose designed.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and ellicient device which may be readily and quickly applied to a wheel having a pneumatic tire in such manner as to protect the tire against wear and puncture and which is constructed in such manner as to afford the necessary degree of resiliency.

ln order to accomplish the desired result the invention consists, essentially, of a plurality of overlapping metallic sections or shields having inwardly directed ears connected by opposed circular series of links extending about the -opposed'side walls of the tire and connected at intervals by anchor or attaching chains whereby the armor is maintained in position upon the vehicle wheel.

`With these and other obiects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the novel fea-tures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described in the. following specification and then finally pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

Figure l represents a half side elevation of a vehicle wheel illustrating the improved armor applied thereto.

F ig. 2 represents a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, the wheel and tire being removed.

Fig. 3 represents a plan view of one of the blanks of which the sections are constructed.

Referring to the drawing in detail wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views A designates the felly of an ordinary vehicle wheel equipped with the usual pneumatic tire B in connection with which the improved tire armor designated generally by the numeral 5 is designed for use.

The armor consists of a circular series of substantially U-shaped sections 6 which are properly curved to conform with the eX- ternal contour of the tread portion and side walls of the tire B and are arranged in overlapping relation, with the reduced terminal 7 of each section underlying the terminal ol degree of strength and flexibility is utilized in the manufacture thereof in order to secure maximum efliciency of the armor when applied to use. Each blank is substantially 'iT-shaped in plan and consists of a body having one terminal 7 reduced and provided at its opposite extremity with opposed lateral extensions 8 which, when the blank is properly curved to conform with the contour of the pneumatic tire A, overlie the side walls of the tire and are apertured to accommodate rivets or other pivoting elements 9. Groups of anti-skidding ribs l0 are provided on the exposed surfaces of the armor sections and are disposed to resist skidding movement of the wheel upon a roadway. One rib l0a of the group on each armor section is so transversely disposed intermediate the lateral extensions 8 and the reduced end 7 as to provide an abutment orstop for the overlying end of the adjacent section, as suggested in Fig. l, for limiting the contracting movement of the several sections. The transversely'disposed rib 10a also reinforces the medial portion of each armor section, maintaining proper curvature thereof and insuring against its distortion.

Opposed circular series of connecting links ll are arranged in overlapping relation on the opposite .sides of the armor and are terminally apertured to accommodate the rivets 9 whereby the several links are pivotally connectedv to present an endless chain aifording a limited relative movement of the several sections of the armor and assisting in maintaining the latter in position upon the tire. A bolt 12 is preferably substituted for one rivet in each set of links 1l, as suggested in Fig. 2, in order that the tire armor, subsequent to the removal of the nuts and bolts may be applied to or removed from the wheel.

Supplementary anchoring chains 13 are connected terminally with the opposed sets of side links l1 and are of such length as to extend about the felly A and prevent the armor from creeping eircumferentially about the tire.

F rom the foregoing it will be readily understood that the inherent resiliency of the original vehicle tire will remain substaib tially nnimpaired subsequent to the application of the improved tire armor thereto, due to the inherent resiliency of the material from which the armor sections are con struct-ed and due to the overlapping,` and pivotal connection between the several sections of the armor the shape of the latter may be readily varied to accommodateitsel t' to irregularities in the roadway. lt is aise pointed out, that this device may be easily applied to or removed from the Wheel of a vehicle, it merely being necessary to release the chains 13 and remove the bolts l2,

' whereupon the entire armor may be readily lremoved lbodily fromrthe Wheel.

Vter relative thereto in conforming to the contour of the tire, external ribs formed on each of said sections, and links connecting said sections at the opposite terminals of the head thereof, one of the ribs of each seotion being arranged transversely intermediate theends thereof to maintain the curvature ofthe section and to provide an abutment for the overlying head portion of the adjacent section whereby to limit the contracting movement of the several armor sections.

In testimony whereof, I ax myV-signature i hereto.

. JOHN STASSE. 

